Trade union leaders have received pay increases of up to 20 per cent despite
many of their members being made redundant or having their wages frozen or
cut.

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Tony Woodley, boss of Unite, received a 20 percent pay risePhoto: PA

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Bob Crow, the militant leader of the RMT rail union, saw his pay and benefits rise by 8 per cent to £91,646 in 2008.Photo: TELEGRAPH

By Nick Britten

4:30PM BST 02 Aug 2009

The revelation is certain to anger the public who have faced severe disruption this summer because of a series of strikes.

The largest rise reportedly went to Tony Woodley, the joint general secretary of Unite, which with two million members is Britain's biggest trade union.

He was said to have seen an increase in his pay and benefits package last year of 20 per cent, from £88,359 to £105,761.

His salary alone rose by 10 per cent to £93,815 between 2007 and 2008, compared with a public sector average of 2.8 per cent.

He also received a £6,603 benefit from a cut-price union loan towards a maisonette he and Unite are buying in south London and £5,343 in car fuel benefit. Woodley told the Sunday Times: "I've got nothing to hide." Unite said his pay was disproportionately boosted in 2008 by a £3,000 one-off payment, as well as a change in accounting rules.

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Documents filed with the trade union certification office, a regulatory body, reveal that Derek Simpson, 64, Unite's other joint general secretary, received a salary of £97,027, up 4 per cent on the previous year, housing benefit of £38,340 and £24,480 toward his chauffeur-driven car.

Bob Crow, the militant leader of the RMT rail union, saw his pay and benefits rise by 8 per cent to £91,646 in 2008.